Article Number : 3941 |
|
Article Detail |
|
 | |
| Date | 12/2/2008 9:09:08 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=3941 |
| Abstract | By Ken Ryan In recent years bamboo has emerged as one of the most popular new flooring styles, in no small part because of its environmental attributes. Unlike many hardwood floors that can take dozens of years to reforest, bamboo grows abundantly and replenishes quickly... |
| Article | By Ken Ryan In recent years bamboo has emerged as one of the most popular new flooring styles, in no small part because of its environmental attributes. Unlike many hardwood floors that can take dozens of years to reforest, bamboo grows abundantly and replenishes quickly. Environmentally, it’s hard to argue with a wood substitute that matures in three years, regenerates without need for replanting, and requires minimal fertilization or pesticides. Retailers are becoming more savvy about the environmental benefits of bamboo flooring, primarily because the consumer is starting to ask more in-depth questions about the green attributes of the products they’re purchasing, according to David Knight, CEO of Teragren, a leading supplier of bamboo flooring. Within the hardwood flooring segment, bamboo is still a niche player, albeit with mainstream ambitions. And indeed, the stars are aligning in bamboo’s favor. The market for green homes is expected to rise from $2 billion in 2007 to $20 billion over the next five years, according to a 2007 report by McGraw-Hill Construction and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). And according to the New Sustainability Initiative (NSI), green flooring will go from the slowest-growing segment of the green building market to the fastest-growing by 2011. That bodes well for bamboo, which has seen a 50% increase in flooring imports between 2005 and 2006, according to government import data. Differentiating bamboo Not all bamboo flooring products are manufactured the same, and as a result many distributors and retailers have had failures with lower quality bamboo flooring. For example, if the bamboo is harvested too soon, the flooring may be as soft as pine or fir, and some companies manufacture using an adhesive and finish high in formaldehyde and VOCs. It’s becoming more important for consumers to purchase a truly sustainable product. “As a manufacturer, not just an importer, we are able to ensure the quality and true eco-friendliness of our products,” Knight said. “We have also deliberately designed our point-of-purchase system to focus on key points about the environmental attributes of our flooring.” Some say bamboo floors are not as scratch-resistant as hardwood floors. However, new innovations such as with strand-woven bamboo, have helped minimize that issue. Dansk Hardwood, the manufacturing/marketing arm of North American distributor Buckwold Western, has a strand-woven bamboo line called Bamboo Fusion that is both exotic and environmentally friendly. “It outperforms virtually everything else in the market and yet is affordable,” said Bruce Buckwold, president. Within the green market is a demographic that pays close attention to environmental quality within the home and buys products accordingly. Some bamboo manufacturers still use glues that contain urea formaldehyde (UF), a potential carcinogen, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. However, leading suppliers like Teragren and Dansk use formaldehyde-free adhesives in their bamboo products. These types of products are said to be resonating with consumers. |